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editor’s note

The missionary imperative
The tropical sun was baking hot as our guide took us
around Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School. It was my first
trip to Papua New Guinea and I was excited to be walking
on the campus where my grandfather had lived and worked.
I had grown up with stories of my mother’s time in Fiji with
my grandparents. After she returned to Avondale, they had
moved to Kabiufa. As we walked through the immaculate
gardens, the people we met were warm and friendly—the
sun was the only unwelcoming body, beating and burning.
It was Sabbath and, after our tour, it was time to board a
plane and return to Moresby for a flight home early the
following morning.
In the hotel that night, I suffered the worst gastro of my
life. I’ll spare you the gory details but suffice to say the night
is seared in my memory. Sunstroke and dehydration coupled
with some dodgy water hit me hard.
It brought home both how hard and also
how beautiful and enriching it can be to
travel. It brought home some of the realities
of the hardships faced by missionaries as
they enter foreign fields—if you’re not well
prepared (as I wasn’t that day), and even
sometimes when you are, you can get very
sick. It also illustrated the reality depicted in
my grandparents’ stories and the missionary
books I had read as a kid: there is beauty,
passion, God-moments, hardship, illness, tragedy, triumph
and struggle all wrapped up in the mission experience.
Although for me it was only a taste, I was reminded of the
challenges and triumphs of the missionary experience.
Many of us who live in the South Pacific Division (SPD)
have either worked as missionaries or have close family
members who did. Missionary work was an integral part of
this Division’s identity and culture. Yet, somewhere along
the way, we lost that connection. I want to acknowledge
the amazing work of modern day missionaries working
throughout the Division. But it is rare for anyone to define
themselves as a missionary anymore.
Make no mistake, the missionary imperative is still valid.
Christ still compels us to “Go”. But what it means to be a
missionary has changed. The assumption that a missionary
has to go to foreign shores to preach the gospel has

changed. I think it’s time we redefined the word. There
are practical opportunities that still exist for modern day
missionaries, some of which are overseas and some of
which are in our very own backyards.
In the past few days I’ve come across a few of these
opportunities that I’d like to share with you.
During SPD worship I heard about the amazing work of
the remote clinics in the Pacific where Adventist health
professionals are working—transforming communities and
planting seeds for Christ. We also heard about the Australian
churches that have adopted them and organised fly‘n’builds.
These shorter trips can transform local churches but there
are so many missionary opportunities at home as well.
When I heard about the medical missionary work making
such an impact in the Pacific, I asked myself what needs
could be met here in Australia. One area
increasingly impacting the community is
mental illness. As members we can learn
more and take part in programs designed
to support people struggling with this issue.
Another problem is obesity. CHIP and other
fantastic Church resources are available to
use in our communities.
I look around and see my own
demographic—middle-class, white Australian
males—under represented in Australian
churches. What can we do to reach upper and middle class
Caucasian communities? Throughout the SPD there are
entire communities of immigrants from countries where
there is no knowledge of Christ. What are their needs? How
can we connect with them?
And there are still overseas opportunities. The Adventist
Church runs a “tent-making ministry”—for the intentional
placement of Adventist professionals in employment in
unreached areas. Visit te.adventistmission.org to find out
more information. There is also an Adventist Professionals
Network, for members who want to be involved in mission
(apn.adventist.org).
The opportunities are still there. The call is
still there. The question
is, will we go?
jarrod stackelroth

adventist record is the
official news magazine of the
seventh-day adventist church’s
south pacific division
abn 59 093 117 689
vol 123 no 3

february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

3

news

The most enriching time that I spend
with the General Conference and Division presidents (which is at least three
times a year) is when we share mission
stories from within our territories.
Below are a couple of those stories
(names and details changed).
Ibrahim was an overseas university
student in a European country, seeking religious understanding. This was
mainly satisfied by reading The Great
Controversy online. Ibrahim was so
zealous for faith—he immersed himself in Bible study and found the 28
fundamentals were true. Not knowing
who to contact he baptised himself
in a bath. At the end of his studies he
returned home and wanted to associate with the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. He contacted a church via their
webpage. The church was suspicious
and scared, wondering if this new
person wanting to meet them was an
agent for the government or religion.
Finally after much prayer the pastor
chose to visit with Ibrahim at a café.
Ibrahim was no fake—he had shared his
new-found faith in Jesus with family
and friends and a whole new people
network opened up for the gospel.
Another pastor in a very tough country was asked to move to a new area in
a city and start a church. After prayer
and a month of daily visitation to people in the area, no-one had shown any
interest. His wife met a lady, Emiko,
who was abandoned by her husband
and needed support. The pastor and
his wife gave it—this lady started a
small group and told people that Jesus
had changed her. The change was noticeable and they believed her. Eventually so did Emiko’s estranged husband
and now 12 of her family and friends
are followers of Jesus and part of the
new church in the area.
God is at work in the world. He
uses us in the church. He can use you
and me if we are willing, as He used
Ibrahim and Emiko. God dreams of His
people becoming disciples.

Glenn townend
SPD president
4

/SPDpresident
Adventist record | february 17, 2018

Good samaritan centre opens for community
lachy steed/Maryborough district Advertiser
Maryborough
Seventh-day Adventist
Church (Vic) members are
rolling up their sleeves and
doing their bit for the community.
In an initiative that started earlier this month, bags
full of healthy groceries are
being made available for
$A5 from the church.
The project is operated out of the new Good
broden house outside maryborough church.
Samaritan Centre at the
want to be like Him.”
church every Thursday afternoon.
The Good Samaritan Centre
With much of the food donated from
originally started in Wendouree, Mr
Foodbank Victoria, the bags contain
vital staple food items such as break- House said. “After much prayer, we
as a church felt God wanted [another
fast cereals.
centre] to start here in Maryborough.
“It’s all healthy food, there’s no
“We know many people struggle.
junk food,” said Maryborough church
Even well-off people have weeks
member Broden House. “This is for
where they struggle and that’s what
everyone who needs help; it’s for
this centre is here for. We believe it
everyone in the community.
is God’s will for it to happen in this
“Jesus mingled with the people
town.”
and showed them sympathy, we

bible camps explore last day events
carole cholai/record staff
In a first for the area, New
Britain New Ireland Mission, Papua
New Guinea, is running Bible camps
this year for young people in the
provincial regions.
The first meeting was held at
the Malakuna church from January
17 to 21 for the East New Britain
young people. The remote location
and peaceful environment were
helpful for encouraging study time.
The meetings, based on the book
Last Day Events, included reading
the chapters, group discussions and
a prayer session at the end of each
reading.
More than 60 young people
attended the first meeting. Many
shared that it was their first time
hearing about last day events in
detail and that they were eager
to share the knowledge they had

young people study together.

gained with their friends and family
members. The next meetings were
scheduled for West New Britain and
then New Ireland, followed by Adult
Bible camps.
“It is our prayer that many young
people through these camps will
have a greater desire for reading Ellen White’s writings and the Bible in
preparation for His soon return,” said
Carole Cholai, from the New Britain
New Ireland Mission communication
department.

Photo: Maryborough District Advertiser

stories of mission

ADVENTISTS recognised with Australia day honours
tracey bridcutt
A former nurse unit manager at
Sydney Adventist Hospital was posthumously recognised in this year’s
Australia Day honours.
Glenys Chapman was awarded a
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
for her service to nursing and international outreach programs. Ms Chapman
passed away on May 17, 2017 after a
lifetime dedicated to caring for others. She attended Wahroonga church
(NSW) for many years.
“Throughout Glenys’ life she demonstrated selfless dedication and generosity in giving both to the San and to

Glenys chapman with nepalese children.

other communities through her work
and volunteering,” a San spokeswoman
said.
Ms Chapman worked at the San for
41 years, commencing in 1974 as a
trainee nurse. In subsequent years she
worked as a registered nurse, midwife
and nurse unit manager.
She provided more than 21 years of
service to the hospital’s international
outreach program, Open Heart International (OHI), travelling annually to Nepal
as a volunteer. OHI has established a
scholarship in her honour to inspire
graduate nurses to be involved in international service.
While in Nepal, Ms Chapman
became aware of how few children
attended school, often because families
struggled with the costs. Through the
Adventist Development and Relief
Agency she sought sponsorship for the
children so they could go to school. As
a result of her efforts, more than 120
children were sponsored across seven
schools.
Thornleigh church member Rosalind Carlson was also awarded an

oam recipient Rosalind carson.

OAM. She was recognised for service
to choral music and to education. Her
choral work began 46 years ago with
the foundation of Carlson Chorale. Her
work as a composer and conductor has
been recognised internationally by the
American Biographical Institute, which
conferred on her the Woman of the
Year award.
Ms Carlson worked for the NSW
Education Department for more than
20 years in various roles, including as
a teacher, deputy principal and senior
mistress. She holds annual concerts
and eisteddfods, and raises funds for
charities and community projects.

family and colleagues mourn happy signs worker
jarrod stackelroth
Tributes have poured in for a friendly, fun and lovable colleague, husband
and father who died recently.
The Signs Publishing family, Adventist Media and the Australian Union
Conference are mourning the tragic
loss of James Maae. He leaves behind
his wife Maine and son Elijah.
After an accident on January 28, Mr
Maae was rushed to intensive care but
passed away two days later.
He had worked at Signs for the past
three years, commencing as distribution support officer on September 8,
2014.
“He arrived that day with a happy
smile and friendly banter and soon
became a much-loved friend and
workmate to us all in the Signs family,”
said production manager Ray Portbury.

“Nothing was too much trouble
for James. He was always willing
to help, not only here but in the
community of Warburton. If he
saw someone in need or in trouble he stopped to help and care
for them.”
Sonia Knight, his direct supervisor and Signs distribution
manager, agrees. “Many of you
james maae.
would have experienced his willingness to go above and beyond
associate pastor of Warburton church.
the call of duty, even it if meant extra
Mrs Maae previously worked at
work for the packing guys,” she said.
Signs in finance before moving to her
“Nothing was ever a problem for him
current role at the AUC.
and he seemed to be drawn to those
Her colleagues at the AUC have set
who were in need.”
up a GoFundMe page to support the
Mr Maae studied theology at Avonfamily. Visit <www.gofundme.com/
dale College before the family moved
james-maae-supporting-his-family>.
to Victoria. He spent some time as
february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

5

Long-serving educators honoured in retirement
jarrod stackelroth
The new school year commenced without two of New
Zealand’s longest-serving Adventist educators, who retired
at the end of 2017 with 79 years of service between them.
Ross Bishop retired as principal of Tauranga Adventist
School, a role he held for 29 years. Under his leadership,
the school relocated and grew from 31 students to 112.
Students paid tribute to Mr Bishop’s spiritual leadership
and for providing opportunities to connect with Jesus and
lead worship. He was also acknowledged for the memorable
trips he had organised and led, the integrated curriculum he
developed and the varied learning experiences he led. He
was honoured with a special
“this is your life” tribute, along
with a helicopter experience
where he was flown over the
school’s playing field, where
students had formed the word
“Thanks”.
During his 43 years in Adventist education, Mr Bishop
also served in Kaitaia, Timaru,
Invercargill and Christchurch.
Cas Goodchild also recently
retired
after 36 years of
ROSS bishop.

service to Adventist education, including
21 years at the
two-teacher Adventist
school in
Whakatane.
OriginalL-R: Rosalie McFarlAne with Cliff and Cas Goodly teaching
child and Whakatane principal Olepa Ki Korenhoff.
in Adventist
education in South Africa, Mrs Goodchild moved to New
Zealand and took up residence in Whakatane and taught
the junior school.
“Her own passion for Jesus had an impact on her students,” said New Zealand Pacific Union Conference education director Dr Rosalie McFarlane. School staff described
her as a quiet, gracious, principled person who was both a
very professional teacher and a good friend.
“These two educators have been deeply loved and appreciated by the communities they have served for a long
time,” said Dr McFarlane. “Both educators have earned
deep respect from New Zealand’s Adventist teachers and
principals and will be missed as they retire.”

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Adventist record | february 17, 2018

2000 pathfinders hold camporee
in new work area

news grabs

Jarrod Stackelroth/Linray tutuo
Pathfinders from around the Solomon
Islands attended the “I pass it on” Camporee at Auluta on the island of Malaita
from December 31 to January 6.
Some of the 2000 attendees travelled
for up to two weeks to get to the remote
destination.
Local community members also
attended the evening meetings and
watched them with interest.
One of the activities involved the
Pathfinders taking part in communi-

37 pathfinders were baptised.

ty service, distributing gifts to nearby
villages, some walking one or two hours
to serve.
According to speaker and Solomon
Islands Mission youth director, Pastor
Linray Tutuo, the camporee faced some
challenges, including financial constraints and land disputes, but God saw
everything work out.
“God was given the glory during
that week,” Pastor Tutuo reported.
“The campsite was a new area where
our Adventist presence is in the
minority and during the camporee
we sowed the seed of God’s love
in the villages and communities
there. We are praying that God
will continue to water it until He
comes back to reap the harvest.”
One of the highlights of the
week was the baptism of 37 Pathfinders. Pastor Tutuo described
it as the “icing on the Pathfinder
camporee cake”.

at the table reaches new audience
vania chew
Subscribers to Foxtel, Fetch TV and
Optus will soon be able to watch At The
Table on the Australian Christian Channel
(ACC).
Adventist Media’s panel show for
women will be available on ACC from
February 26.
“Adventist Media has a long-standing
relationship with ACC and we’re excited
that we’re continuing that relationship
and that they’re broadcasting our show,”
said Adventist Media CEO Kalvin Dever.
ACC has a potential audience of approximately 2.2 million homes (6.4 million people). The channel describes itself
as “an evangelistic mission seeking to
advance the cause of Christ”. Its purpose
is “to redeem media, influence culture
and be a safe entertainment platform for
families”.
“This is great news because it’s
broadening our current reach,” said show

COLOUR ME FOCUSED
Did you know that you take in more
information while you are colouring
in? That’s the rationale behind a new
colouring book for adults released by
the Women’s Ministries department
of the Trans-European Division.
Based on a set of 14 lessons, entitled
“Women in the Bible and me”, the
colouring books are designed to
spark creativity while studying God’s
Word.—TED

COMPASSIONATE CHURCH
Respect for refugees was the key
theme at a recent United Nations
symposium held in New York. Cosponsored by the Adventist Church,
more than 250 representatives from
the UN community, religious groups
and non-governmental organisations
attended the event.—International
Religious Liberty Association

at the table is currently in its third season.

senior producer Adam Kavanagh. “We
were largely focused on reaching secular
audiences through Channel Ten and
Hope Channel New Zealand. Now we’re
reaching the homes of Christian families
who need nurturing and support.”
Those who don’t have ACC can still
watch At The Table on Channel Ten
(Sundays at 4:30am), on demand (https://
tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/at-the-table) or via YouTube for those outside
Australia.

UNCHARTeD TERRITORY
Members of the National
Association of Adventist Corps
recently baptised 40 people on the
island of Egbopuloama (Nigeria),
which previously had no Adventist
presence. The Corps initiative, a
chaplaincy ministry of the Adventist
Church, seeks to engage and deploy
Adventist young professionals for
mission.—Adventist Review

february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

7

hot topics

MEGACHURCH blown up
Chinese police officers recently
demolished one of the country’s
largest evangelical churches, using
heavy machinery and dynamite. More
than 50,000 Christians worshipped
there. Under President Xi Jinping, the
Government has destroyed churches
as part of a campaign that reflects
the Communist Party’s long-standing
fear that Christianity is a threat to the
party’s authority.—NY Times

ARK ON THE LOOSE
A storm in the Netherlands has
caused a full-sized Noah’s Ark replica
to come loose from its moorings,
crashing into and wrecking several
ships in the harbour. The owner had
lived on the boat for seven years and
had turned it into a museum, with
Bible artefacts and displays of Bible
stories. All people and animals on
board were unharmed.—Relevant

CAN BAN
Following the UK’s move to ban the
sale of energy drinks to under-16s,
New Zealand dietitians are hoping
their nation will follow suit. But
while the Ministry of Health does
not recommend energy drinks for
youth, supermarket giants New
World, Pak’nSave and Countdown
say they have no plans to place age
restrictions on energy drinks.—Stuff
NZ

8

Adventist record | february 17, 2018

adventcare bendigo to close
jarrod stackelroth
AdventCare Victoria has
announced that the AdventCare Bendigo Residential
Care Facility will close next
month due to increasing
competition and falling
occupancy.
The independent living
units will continue to operate.
According to a statement
from Victorian Conference
president Graeme Christian,
The Adventcare bendigo residential care facility.
the facility has struggled
to remain viable over the
members.
past 18 months, despite upgrades to
Elder Claude Trickey said the most
older rooms, improvements in marketing
important thing for the church, now that
pitches and investments in new equipthe decision had been made, was to
ment. These initiatives brought in some
hold onto the land, which surrounds the
new residents, but occupancy remained
church on the main road. There is no
too low to be considered viable. In a
plan yet for what will happen when the
unanimous decision, the AdventCare
facility closes.
board of directors voted to close the
“First we’ve got to look after the
facility.
people who are in the homes. When it
The focus is now on continuing care
closes down, then we will look at what
for the remaining residents and staff
we do, take one step at a time,” Mr
members.
Trickey said.
“Our priority now is to ensure both
“Everybody feels different [about the
residents and employees are treated
closure]. They’re disappointed of course.
with the dignity, care and respect they
Because they built it—240,000 hours
deserve,” Pastor Christian said.
went into building the thing. It’s gone,
Each resident has been offered a
we’ve got to live with that, we’ve got to
place in another facility in Bendigo but
move forward.
has the option to explore other alterna“As leaders of the church you have
tives.
to be positive in what you’re doing. The
Staff entitlements will be paid out in
church is here to take the gospel to the
full and employees have been invited to
apply for a job at another aged care pro- world before Jesus comes. We are here
to serve the community and under the
vider in Bendigo that has opportunities
power and guidance of the Holy Spirit
available and where their applications
we will decide where to go from here.”
will be given preference.
For now, the focus is on supporting
“It brings Conference leadership no
and caring for the residents, their famijoy to know that no other option could
lies, the staff and everyone who will be
be found for the Bendigo facility,” said
affected by the closure.
Pastor Christian. “Our hearts go out to
“Thank you for your ongoing supall who will be affected as a result of this
port and prayers for residents and their
announcement.”
families, for the staff, and the Bendigo
Conference leaders have attended
Seventh-day Adventist Church and its
Bendigo church business meetings on
community and surrounding districts,”
a number of occasions over the past
Pastor Christian said.
18 months to discuss the situation with

flashpoint

MISSION FOR WELLNESS
Sydney Adventist Hospital (the
San) will be including more
whole foods and nourishing
food choices in its food outlets.
From next month, the San will
no longer be selling sugary soft
drinks in its cafes and on-site
vending machines. In response to
customer feedback, incorporating new branding and recognising its environmental impact, the
San will also reduce packaging
usage by offering re-usable cups
for hot beverages and will move
to biodegradable packaging for
self-service options. “[We have]
a commitment to ‘more care’ for
our staff and customers,” said
Adventist HealthCare acting CEO
Brett Goods. “These changes
complement our mission for
wellness.—Record staff

Prayers for teachers
Teachers from Wahroonga
Adventist School (NSW) were affirmed and uplifted with a special
breakfast and community-building session with Wahroonga
and Fox Valley church leaders.
Greater Sydney Conference
president Terry Johnson gave a
talk and prayers were offered for
the teachers as they prepared for
the start of the new school year.
School chaplain Pastor Richie
Reid said the aim was to remind
the teachers of their calling and
of the importance of their ministry.—Tracey Bridcutt

CLIMATE CHARGE
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Papanui Adventist Church (South
New Zealand) members recently
came up with a creative way to
continue engaging with their
community. Following the conclusion of Big Camp in mid-January,
they decided to hold a free family
fun day to encourage all the families in the Christchurch region
to catch up and have a playdate.
Attendees enjoyed three jumping
castles, games and face painting,
as well as popcorn, organic juice,
whole fruits ice-cream and other
delicious treats.—Maritza Brunt

MULTICULTURAL EVANGELISM
The Adventist Karen community in Werribee (Vic), which has only been
meeting for a few years, recently hosted an outreach series for the
wider community, with fantastic results. Adventists from as far away as
Bendigo supported the program, which was attended by a number of
people from other denominations and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
There was an average attendance of 80 people a night and cause for
celebration following the conclusion of the program, as six people
recommitted their lives to Christ through a profession of faith and seven
through baptism.—IntraVic

Young people from around the
Trans Pacific Union Mission
(TPUM) received a special
charge from Fiji President
George Konrote at the TPUM
Youth Congress in December.
Opening the congress, Mr Konrote urged the 500 attendees
to help reduce the impacts of
climate change in their own
communities, and to take a
strong stand on violence against
women, children and the vulnerable in society, saying young
people of the Pacific were leaders and made up over half of the
region’s population.—Fiji Times

have a
news story?
email it to
news@record.net.au

PLANT GROWTH

BACK TO THE SANCTUARY

THE good DOCTOR

The Parramatta Central church plant (Sydney)
celebrated its first baptism on January 20
when William Lim was baptised at Chipping
Norton Lake by Pastor Daniel Przybylko.
William learned about Adventists when he
joined the Adventist-run student club at
Western Sydney University last year, and says
he’s very happy to be part of the Parramatta
Central church family.—Vania Chew

In early December, for the first time in five
and-a-half years, members from the St
Martins Adventist Church (Christchurch, NZ)
were able to worship in their sanctuary again.
Following the 2011 earthquake the members
have been worshipping in a double room and
then the hall. Now the sanctuary is to the required standard for a public building and work
on stage 2 has begun.—South News

Sydney Adventist Hospital cardiologist Dr
Maros Elsik has been commended by the
Royal Life Saving Society of Australia for his
assistance in helping to save a life during
an emergency episode. Dr Elsick, who was
travelling near the hospital at the time,
stopped to assist other good Samaritans
who were helping a driver who is believed
to have suffered a heart attack.—San News

february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

9

FAITH

i

i

why i don't go to church
T

his year, I’ve decided to stop going to church. A bit of a shocking
statement, especially as I grew
up an Adventist and am currently
employed by the Church. But 2017
was a year of discovery and development, and I came to realise that going
to church wasn’t helping my spiritual,
emotional, mental or physical health.
This realisation can happen to the
best of us. We force ourselves out of
bed on a Saturday morning, grumbling
about how that sleep-in wasn’t long
enough. We show up to church—maybe Sabbath School, if we’re lucky—we
listen, we sing, we give offerings and
we bow our heads for prayer. We
shake the pastor’s hand, we may stay

10

Adventist record | february 17, 2018

for potluck lunch, we go home. And
then we do it all again the following
week.
They say repetition is good for the
soul but this was crushing mine. Coupled with the burden and expectations
of being a new pastor’s wife, there
were days when I’d cry just thinking
about having to go to church. It got so
bad that I even started questioning the
need for church.
In the process of soul-searching, I
came across a quote by Charles Swindoll that solidified my decision to stop
going to church:
“This may shock you, but I believe
the single most significant decision I
can make on a day-to-day basis is my
choice of attitude. It is more important
than my past, my education, my successes or failures, what other people
think of me or say about me, my circumstances or my position. Attitude is
that ‘single string’ that keeps me going
or cripples my progress. It alone fuels
my fire or assaults my hope. When my
attitudes are right, there’s no barrier
too high, no valley too deep, no dream
too extreme, no challenge too great
for me.”
Everything changed after that. You
see, I stopped going to church, but
instead, I started being the church (or
trying to, anyway).
I've stopped viewing church as
four walls and realised that the only
wall that mattered was the one I was
building in front of my heart. Removing that barrier allowed me to
be more open, less uptight and to
focus more on what's important.
That’s church.
I’ve started caring, really
caring, about fellow church
members and their lives. On
mornings when I feel like
throwing a hand grenade

at my alarm clock, I push myself out of
bed, knowing God can use me to be
a blessing to someone that day. This
isn’t easy, especially on days when
anxiety rears its ugly head. But more
often than not, it’s on those days
when I’m on the receiving end of the
blessings—a kind word from a church
member, a hug from one of the children. That’s church.
I’ve tried to stop blaming. To point
my finger less at Church administration. Instead of accusing, “They should
be doing this better”, I point the finger
back at myself, asking, “What can I do
to make it better?” That’s church.
I’ve changed my language around
youth retention. We talk so often
about the ones who leave but what
about the ones who stay? Yes, we
need to recognise, address and reach
out to those who leave. But we also
need to celebrate, encourage and
disciple the ones who stay. Because
we’re here and we’re ready. We
believe in this Church and we want to
see it grow. That’s church.
Deciding to stop going to church
was one of the best decisions I’ve ever
made. No matter how young or old
you are, I challenge you to take a look
at your attitude when it comes to the
Church. Ask yourself the hard questions. Pray. Connect with your local
conference—a lot of them have great
ideas on how you can be the church.
It’s not easy sometimes, but with a
little attitude adjustment and a lot of
prayer, we can live out church how
God intended. Simply going requires
effort; being requires heart. Try it. You
won’t be disappointed.

her to this day.
“I was horrified by the condition of
his body,” she said, her eyes red with
tears.
Early the next morning, Anwara
gathered her children and fled to the
Naf River that separates the danger of
Myanmar from the salvation of Bangladesh.
All day and night, the family huddled, hidden among grazing cattle.
Finally, at 2am, Anwara traded her
gold earrings for safe passage on the
overcrowded boat, joining 35 others in
their desperate attempt at a new life.
Anwara and her children now live in
a refugee camp across the river, just a
few kilometres from her old life. There,
she had her own house, many goats
and seven cows. Now, she has a black
tarp and a ration of food aid. But at
least her children are alive.
“I left everything behind to find
safety in Bangladesh,” she said.
For refugees like Anwara and her
children, the future is ominous and
uncertain. But Anwara is sure about
one thing.
“I will never return to Myanmar after
what I have been through,” she said.
“I still have faith in God but I have lost
my faith in humanity.”
For now, Anwara continues to
survive. At night, she is haunted by her
memories, but she wakes each morning with renewed faith in God and the

humanitarian agencies like ADRA that
continue to support her.
“I am very grateful to ADRA and
everyone else who keeps us alive and
well,” she said. “I know God will bless
us and keep us.”
The Rohingya refugee crisis in
Bangladesh is just one of the many
disasters in the world today.
This Sabbath (February 17) is the
disaster, famine and relief offering, enabling ADRA to restore hope to people
affected by natural and human-made
disasters.
Visit <www.adra.org.au/respond> or
<www.adra.org.nz/respond>.

michael rohm visited the rohingya
refugee camps in Bangladesh in November
2017.

Photos: MArjay Arellano

I

t was 2am when Anwara climbed
into the boat.
In the darkness strange hands
passed her up toward the bow and
unfamiliar bodies pressed against her.
She called out softly to her children,
her hands feeling about for their faces.
The small boat, weighed down by
its burden of more than 40 people,
pulled forward unevenly. When it finally neared the distant shore, the driver
stopped and ordered everyone over
the side.
“The bank was nearly chest deep
in mud,” Anwara recalled. “We had
no choice but to cross on foot just to
reach the other side.
“I couldn’t afford to be afraid. I had
my children with me and I needed to
keep them alive.”
As a Rohingya woman fleeing political violence in Myanmar, Anwara knew
she had much to fear. Since August,
whole communities in the Rakhine
State had been razed, with untold
numbers of men, women and children
violated and killed.
It wasn’t long before that same violence came to Anwara’s doorstep.
“When the army attacked our
village, they arrested all the men,” she
said. “My husband was among them.”
The next day, Anwara set out to
find her husband. Dark rumours had
been circulating and she needed to
know the truth. What she found haunts

Anwara from myanmar.
february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

11

digging in his word
with WAYNE BOEHM

LEARNING THE HARD LESSONS – WALKING
BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT
“Father Abraham had many sons.“

You know how the song goes. The
story of Abraham reveals much
about faith and the experience of
justification and sanctification.

CONSIDER the events in Abraham’s
life as recorded in Hebrews 11:810, 17-19. What do you learn from
Abraham’s journey that can apply to
your own life?
ABRAHAM’S JOURNEY IN THREE STAGES:
1. By faith, Abraham obeyed when
called to an unknown place (v8).
2. Abraham had to continue walking
in faith while living as a foreigner in
the Promised Land (v9,10).
3. When Abraham's “sight“ told him
the only way the “promise of a great
nation“ was going to be fulfilled was
through his son Isaac, he had to
walk by faith not by sight (v17-19).
Which of the above three experiences do you think was the most
difficult for Abraham and why?
If Abraham’s story were to occur
in the “fast food“ culture of 2018,
what would be the expectation?
Perhaps after one day of leaving
his humble tent in the region of
Mesopotamia, Abraham would have
walked into “McMansion“ wealth
and prosperity with no further test
of faith required, for he had carried
out the instructions given to him
by God! Often we look for the easy
faith road with few obstacles, but
this only leads to light-weight faith
that has little or no foundation.

CONSIDER 2 Corinthians 5:7. As 2018
commences, God calls us, like Abraham, to walk by faith, not by sight.
PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER specific areas
of your life (faith, family, finances)
where the Holy Spirit is growing
a conviction for you to step out in
faith and service and allow God to
form a faith more pure than gold
(1 Peter 1:6,7).

12

Adventist record | february 17, 2018

my
story
THE SNAKEBITE CONVERSION
Billy Jack is an active youth
member from the Kogena village
in the Maria District of the Central Papua Conference (Papua New
Guinea). Currently a Grade 6 student
at Toule Adventist Primary School,
Billy was baptised in November
2016 and loves ministering to the
community through Bible discovery
guides and service. Billy’s mother
and four younger siblings are also
Adventist Church members.
His father, however, was a different story.
From the beginning, the family
faced a seemingly hard challenge as
Jack Snr resisted their acceptance
of Bible truths and their fellowship with the Adventist Church.
His obstinate resistance eventually
became so unbearable that young
Billy decided the only thing he could
do was pray. The month he was
baptised, Billy prayed intentionally
for his father, asking God to teach
his father a lesson that would result
in his turnaround.
For almost a year, Billy’s prayers
seemed unanswered. But on October 13, 2017, Jack Snr was working
in the village garden when he was
bitten by a venomous snake. Rushed
to the emergency department of
Port Moresby General Hospital, doctors worked to save Jack Snr’s life.
Miraculously, he survived and began
the road to recovery.
When Billy visited his father three
days later, he shared his secret

prayer from a year earlier. His father
was moved to tears and thanked
God for saving his life. He asked the
whole family to forgive him and,
together, they prayed for God’s
healing on their father and in their
hearts.
Since his discharge from hospital, Jack Snr has joined the family
in their Sabbath worship at Kiru
Seventh-day Adventist Church. He
is currently attending the baptismal
class and plans to be baptised very
soon.
Billy Jack’s story is a wonderful
testimony of the commitment of
many young people in the discipleship-making movement within the
Central Papua Conference—like Billy,
simply praying and asking God to
use them in their homes, villages,
workplaces, churches and wider
communities.

One of the oldest biblically mentioned places that
still exists today, Egypt was a key location for important
events in both the Old and New Testaments. Today, more
than 14.7 million tourists visit the country each year.

Most famously known for the place Saul was travelling
to when God stopped him in his tracks (literally),
Damascus has been around since the third millennium
BC. In Bible times, Damascus was part of the Aram region
and is now the capital of Syria.

2. Paphos (Cyprus)
A coastal city with spectacular ancient ruins, Paphos
is mentioned in Acts 13, where Paul (referred to as Saul)
and Barnabas arrive after travelling the whole island of
Cyprus.

3. Jerusalem (Israel)
Located within the biblical account of the Promised
Land, Jerusalem played a pivotal role in the lives of key
Bible characters and is still considered one of the holiest
cities in the world today.

4. Ephesus (Turkey)
An important centre for early Christianity, Paul himself
lived in the city from AD 52–54. Ephesus is also one of
the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the Book of
Revelation. It was part of the Greek and Roman empires
in Bible times and today its ruins are near Selcuk, in
Turkey.

5. Rome (Italy)
At its peak, the Roman empire comprised 12 per cent
of the world’s population and had the city of Rome as its
capital. Mentioned extensively throughout the New Testament, Rome had a tremendous impact in the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth and crucifixion.

7. Corinth (Greece)
Another city in Paul's missionary travels, the village
surrounding the ruins of the ancient city was actually
destroyed by an earthquake in 1858. The city of Corinth
today is an industrial hub and lies about 3 kilometres
from the original ancient city.

8. Malta
Shipwrecked after a storm (Acts 27, 28), Paul ended
up in Malta for three months, beginning a Christian influence that has continued down through the centuries. Today, Malta is the most religious nation in Europe, with 98
per cent of its citizens members of the Catholic Church.

9. Babylon (Iraq)
A key biblical kingdom, Babylon appears prominently in
the books of Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and, most notably,
Revelation. It's the most famous city from ancient Mesopotamia and the ruins can be found in modern-day Iraq.

10. Mount Nebo (Jordan)
In the final chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses climbs
Mount Nebo and is granted a view of the Promised Land.
Today, the cities of Jericho and Jerusalem are usually
visible from the summit.

february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

13

28

FUNDAMENTALS

THE
DIVINE BARGAIN
The Trinity
There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful,
all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His
self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation. (Gen.
1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.)

T

he triune nature of God is the
most sublime, but often difficult to understand, teaching in
the Bible. The Shema Yisrael, found
in Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear O Israel:
The Lord is our God, the Lord is one,”1
is the centrepiece of Jewish morning and evening prayer services and
Jesus quoted this passage when a
scribe asked Him which was the first
commandment (Mark 12:29). The Ten
Commandments strongly emphasise
the unity of God, stating, “You shall
have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). The unity of God is clearly
an important characteristic of God.
But God’s triune nature shows me
that He transcends a grand celestial

14

Adventist record | february 17, 2018

majesty, far away from the realities
of my struggling existence. God gives
Himself to me, a mere human, in ways
that touch and change my life. God
not only rules the universe but, as
Jesus Christ, God died to reclaim me
from sin, and, as the Holy Spirit, God
continually empowers me to become a
new person.
The first chapter of the Bible introduces plurality within God’s unity. Not
only did the Spirit of God hover over
the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2),
but God said “Let us make man in our
image” (verse 26). Some suggest this
“us” and “our” was a conversation
between God and the angels, but the
declaration resulted in the creation

of humans, a unity (Genesis 2:24)
expressed in duality.
The Spirit of God appears several times in the Hebrew Testament.
For example, Bezalel was filled and
empowered with the Spirit of God to
direct construction of the tabernacle
and its furniture (Exodus 31:1-3); the
Spirit of the Lord rushed on Saul, who
prophesied (1 Samuel 10:6); and Ezekiel was taken by the Spirit of God to a
valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1).
The Hebrew Bible thus introduces
the concept of plurality within the unity of our God. Old Testament glimpses
of God’s plurality blossom into the full
picture of the triune Godhead in the
New Testament.2

2

The first full expression of the triune
God is at the baptism of Jesus that
marked His public entry into ministry.
All four gospels include this account:
“And when Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water,
and behold, the heavens were opened
to him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and coming
to rest on him, and behold, a voice
from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved
Son, with whom I am well pleased.’“
(Matthew 3:16,17, also Mark 1:9-11,
Luke 3:21,22, John 1:29-34). John,
prior to his baptism account, powerfully presents the eternal and creative
nature of the Word, God who became
human flesh (John 1:1-14). Jesus
Himself claimed oneness with God, His
Father, and died refusing to renounce
this claim. “This is why the Jews were
seeking all the more to kill him, because . . . he was even calling God his
own father, making himself equal with
God” (John 5:18). “The Jews answered
him [Pilate], ‘We have a law, and
according to that law he ought to die
because he has made himself the Son
of God’” (John 19:7).
The apostle Paul frequently expresses the triune relationship of the
Godhead in his prayers of blessing, for
example, “The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). Peter gives
a trinitarian greeting to believers in
“Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and
Bithynia according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for the obedience

of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1,2).
Our materialistic world cheerfully
accepts the paradox of the bargain
offer of three things for the price
of one. A cynic might question the
quality of the product or the motives
of the vendor, but three for one is
very appealing. But when we enter the
spiritual realm we become mathematical and sceptical. In nature, however, it
is common to find plural parts in one:
the three lobes of a clover leaf, the five
lobes of a maple leaf or the five petals
of a viola (among hundreds of such
examples). These all have “parts” that
are physically attached to one another.
But the omnipresence of God means
that the three Persons of the Godhead
are “joined” by love (“God is love”,
1 John 4:8) yet have separate functions to bring me, a sinner, into a
relationship with God.
Despite the testimony of all gospel
writers, and Paul and Peter, early in
Christian history the rationality of the
doctrine of a triune Godhead was
questioned, notably by Arius (AD 256336). The Age of Reason, which began
in the 18th century, emphasised the
scientific method and the supremacy
of human reason as the means of discovering reality. Isaac Newton (16421727), devout Christian and renowned
scientist, applied “rational” thinking
to the concept of the Godhead and
concluded that only God the Father
was God. Some early Adventists also
struggled with the concept of the Trinity, but notably it was Ellen White who
urged belief in the three Persons of the
Godhead.3
Today Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Scientists and the
Worldwide Church of God deny the full
deity and personhood of either God
the Son or God the Holy Spirit. Perhaps, therefore, the struggles of good
and sincere people to understand by
human reason alone the triunity of God
indicates that without divine revelation humans would never discover the

selfless, triune nature of our Almighty,
quintessence-of-love God.
Yet, in His farewell speech to His
disciples, Jesus made special mention
of the triune, giving nature of God.
“If you love me,” He said, “You will
keep my commandments. And I will
ask the Father and he will give you
another Helper, to be with you forever,
even the Spirit of Truth . . . Whoever
does not love me does not keep my
words. And the word that you hear is
not mine but the Father’s who sent
me. These things I have spoken while
I am still with you. But the Helper,
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, he will teach you all
things and bring to your remembrance
all that I have said to you” (John
14:15-17, 24-26).
Jesus indicates the Trinity is a gift
for my salvation; revelation of this
comes with my love response to Him.
Recently, at a quilt show, I bought
a few small pieces of fabric but was
disconcerted to see the vendor place a
piece I had not chosen into the bag. I
quickly took the bag and peered inside.
There were my chosen pieces plus an
extra one. “A gift!” the smiling merchant said as I looked up. A bargain
gift but it was all mine to enjoy. God
calls us to enjoy all of His graciously
revealed gifts of Himself, enabling us
to take up the challenge of the Great
Commission, to make disciples of all
nations and baptise them in the wonderful name of our God: the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew
28:18-20).
1. All Bible quotes are from the ESV.
2. ESV Study Bible, p 2514.
3. Merlin T Burt “The Trinity in Seventh-day
Adventist History.” Ministry: February 2009.

Dr Elizabeth Ostring
Retired musculoskeletal
and family physician with
a doctorate in Theology.

february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

15

FAITH
BIBLE

I

spiritual

am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one comes to the Father except
through Me" (John 14:6)*. This
statement of Jesus to Philip has led
both atheists and representatives of
other religions (mono and polytheistic)
to accuse Jesus of spiritual arrogance.
But is it true?
It should be said that this accusation, unfortunately, arises from a
superficial error of evaluation and extrapolation from the historical and faith
context in which Jesus spoke those
words. Remember, Jesus was not
conversing with individuals of other
faiths but with his own co-religionists,
jealous of their powerful and eternal
God, Creator of the whole universe.
Here was a God who manifested His
character through a multi-directional
expression of His essence of eternal
love and mercy—the Ten Commandments—sculpting them by His own
finger on stone plates, silent witnesses
of His love and justice. But while being
a proposal of life lived in complete
communion with Him, God’s law conceals an underlying message of death:
anyone who transgresses it will die an
eternal death without any possibility
of return; the reason for such resides
precisely in its function as the expression of God’s character.
Unfortunately, sacred history
reminds us that, shortly after the creation of human beings, Adam and Eve
transgressed God’s law, so they had to
die. However this death—which is not a
chastisement but the natural consequence of separation from the Creator
who is life—will only be temporary

16

Adventist record | february 17, 2018

due to God’s unwillingness to lose His
creatures.
So He reveals His plan to repossess them. The Bible is explicit in this
respect. In Genesis 3:15, God, in His
condemnation to Satan, introduces
His promise of salvation. He showed
to Adam and Eve, who were in hiding,
the way out from their new situation—
spiritual nakedness! As a solution to
their dilemma He answered by covering them with the skin of an animal;
yes, an animal that obviously had to be
sacrificed. A passage in Revelation 13,
“. . . the Lamb, slain from the foundation of this world”, opens up the evidence that this ritual was introduced
to point to God’s plan of salvation; a
hint to the figure of Jesus and His final
victory: “And I will put enmity between
you (the snake, Satan) and the woman,
between your seed and hers; he shall
bruise your head . . .”
This indicates that the offspring of
a woman—a Being similar to her, but
with many other characteristics—would
achieve salvation, not only for the first
couple but for all humanity. See how
in the maze of biblical prophecy, the
history of salvation is sorting out?
Chapter 53 of Isaiah, one of the
greatest prophets, describes intentionally the activity of the Offspring of the
woman, Jesus, whom God had promised to the first couple and who would
overcome the obstacle of the eternal
consequence of disobedience.
“For He shall grow up before Him as
a tender plant, and as a root out of dry
ground . . . He is despised and rejected
of men; a man of sorrows, and acquaint-

ed with grief: and we hid as it were our
faces from him; he was despised, and
we esteemed him not. Surely he hath
borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. But he
was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we
have turned every one to his own way;
and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all . . .” (verses 2-6, KJV).
And then, the key words “. . . by his
knowledge my righteous servant shall
justify many“ (verse 11).
God’s plan of salvation toward anyone who accepts it is simple—even if it
cost the whole deity an unimaginable
pain that can never be forgotten: "the
punishment that brought us peace has
been on him” (verse 5, NIV).
What was this punishment? “. . .
because he poured out his life unto
death" (verse 12). This atrocious consequence emphasises the gravity of
the transgression of the law of life that
God, even if in an oral form, had given
to the first couple at the time of their
creation.
But the redemptive act of the
“servant of the Lord“ finds its full
reason in the effect that act produces: “my righteous servant shall justify
many”. If divine law on the one hand
expresses the essence of God’s love
on the other, it reveals His justice. The
first couple, with their transgression,
had lost the quality of divine justice
in which they had been created, so it

FAITH

ARROGANce?
was necessary to restore it. As a result
of that justice, the first couple would
have been inexorably cut off. But this
was unacceptable to the triune God;
He loved His creatures.
So divine love and justice were
in conflict: to meet the one was to
contradict the other. Only God was
in a position to find the solution and
God proposed the only possible one:
the second Person of the Trinity would
take the place of His creatures; this
One would be charged with the consequence of transgression; this One
would die in our place.
Isaiah presents the “servant of the
Lord“ in His two qualities: human,

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give
you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a Son, and shall
call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14)”
and divine, “For unto us a Child is
born, unto us a Son is given; And the
government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5).”
For this reason, the Servant of the
Lord, the Messiah, Jesus, becomes the
only medium through which the sinner
can return justified to the Father, as if
He had never sinned.
This is the reason why Jesus’ declaration of being the only one Interces-

sor between God and humanity cannot
be properly understood except in the
context of the Jewish-Christian religion, and can in no way be mistaken
for spiritual arrogance, being instead
the revelation of a loving invitation to
return to the divine embrace.
In fact, “For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life” (John
3:16, NIV).
*All Bible verses from NKJV unless otherwise
marked.

gennaro cozzi writes from victoria.

february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

17

health

Going plant based:
better for your body
and the planet
What are your resolutions for 2018? Eating
more plant foods is set to be one of the
biggest trends. It’s already gaining momentum, with Pinterest searches and saves for
plant proteins up 417 per cent in the past 12
months and restaurant chefs expected to be
replacing meat with plants by featuring tofu
and tempeh in more dishes. And have you
heard about Veganuary? Making the switch to
eating more plants has never been easier. Plus
it’s a decision that can be a healthy win for
you and the planet.

TIPS FOR
GOING GREEN

Eat veggies at
every meal
Strive to add veggies to
every meal. Breakfast is
often the biggest hurdle
but this can be as simple
as adding some spinach
to your morning omelette,
adding some greens to
a smoothie or spreading
your toast with avocado.

HEALTHY YOU
You are probably aware of the longer term
benefits of eating mainly plant foods, with research showing it can help you live longer and
reduce the risk of chronic disease.
But what about here and now?
Eating less animal foods that are higher
in saturated fat and eating more plant foods
like nutrient-rich fruit, veggies, wholegrains,
legumes, nuts and seeds has a wide range of
immediate health benefits, from boosting your
immunity to increasing your energy levels. It
can even improve your complexion.

HEALTHY WORLD

Spinach quiche with brown rice crust
This quiche looks great, tastes delicious
and can be served hot or cold—perfect
for picnics or a satisfying veggie heavy
mid-week meal the whole family can
enjoy.
Feed the family or wow your friends
with a delicious new vegetarian
recipe each week.
Australia: sanitarium.com.au/subscribe
New Zealand: sanitarium.co.nz/subscribe

Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing
is now on Facebook!

18

Adventist record | february 17, 2018

Did you know the production of animal
foods is one of the planet’s leading sources
of greenhouse gas emissions? A new global study has found that by switching to a
healthier diet and simply eating in line with
our dietary guidelines, Australia could reduce
greenhouse gases from food production by up
to 25 per cent. From here, each move towards
a more plant-based diet has an even better
impact on the environment. In another study
that compared the environmental impacts of
different diets, the less animal products eaten,
the lower the carbon footprint—with the least
for vegan diets.
The important message is that every bit
helps.

Go local and
seasonal
Local produce that’s in
season is fresh, delicious
and generally cheaper.
Stocking the fridge with
seasonal fruit and veggies
will not only inspire you
to eat more plant foods,
it will also help to support
local growers and is a
more sustainable choice,
reducing the need for
storage and transport.

Prep your plants
Try prepping your veggies
for the day, or the week,
in advance. Keep chopped
up veggie sticks and
fruit in the fridge for
a ready-to-go snack,
pre-make versatile dips
and spreads like hummus
that can be frozen in ice
cube containers for a
single serve, or roast up
a tray of veggies to add
to meals.

have your say
WEB READY

keeping up, looking good

2017! Adventist Record on my comThank you for the new format for viewing
Carole Cholai, New Ireland New
puter.
Much
better,
easier
to readinand really, really appreciated.—Garth
I gued
to this
journey
together
Britain Mission, Papua New Guinea
Jensen, NZ

Editor's note: We are often asked about an app for Adventist Record. At this
stage app development is not viable, however we have a mobile optimised
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Adventist Record.

FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS
In the Adventist Record of
January 27, you printed the
first of a planned series on
the Church’s 28 Fundamental Beliefs.
Are these articles designed to be a re-hash of
the articles that have been
appearing in the monthly
Adventist World news? If so,
why reprint them?
Since 1980 (almost 40
years ago) when the GC
approved them, I have
often wondered how these
“fundamentals” were arrived
at. Was a committee set up
at the GC to draft them or
did the initiative come from
the theology department of
Andrews University or some
other initiative? It would be
interesting to find out.
My reason for asking is
that when I look at my “Certificate of Baptism”, dated
30/6/1951, I find one side is
covered by:
“Summary of Fundamental Beliefs: The following
is a brief summary of the
Fundamental Beliefs of
Seventh-day Adventists,
together with some of the
scriptural references upon
which they are based.”
This statement is then
followed by 27 points. Now
while these 27 statements
may have the same tenor
or general purpose as the

28 fundamentals, they are
totally different in wording,
style and order. Why was
it felt necessary to revise
them?
Will these issues be
examined in the proposed
articles?
Graham Mitchell, via
email
Editor's note: We are not
reprinting or re-hashing but
getting local South Pacific
Division writers to help us
rediscover the 28 key ideas.
The articles will look at
practical ways these beliefs
impact a Seventh-day
Adventist's life, as well as
remind us of their importance in a fresh way.
Yes, the language of the
fundamentals is updated
and they are added to or
changed at General Conference sessions.
We may print some supplementary material dealing
with some of the history
and development of the
beliefs.

POT OF GOLD
Thank you for “Celebrating junk food?” (December
2, 2017).
We have a pot of gold
that is a health message
God has given for our
enjoyment! And not just
our benefit, but that of our

whole communities.
I’d like to sadly point out
that the issue of junk food
goes beyond childhood in
our churches. In my observations as a person in their
mid-twenties, often adults
40-60 years old have been
resistant to applying the
health message today.
I visited a church recently
on a cool, blustery day. And
when I went for a hot drink,
the options were coffee,
black tea and Milo, with
sugar and cow's milk.
You know, God instructed a surprised individual
that these substances were
harmful and we should
abstain from them. Today
young church members
openly joke about their own
addictions to coffee like it’s
completely harmless and
acceptable. Perhaps it is
in our culture, but God has
called us higher . . .
I’ve heard complaints that
“New Agers” have “stolen”
or counterfeited the true
health message. We should
be sobered that others have
picked up where we left off.
Our broader communities
are deeply interested in
health, more so than us!
Where are all the health
businesses and plant-based
cafes run by Adventists?
Most are run by Buddhists
or hipsters, right?

Potlucks/socials are the
perfect opportunity to
encourage each other in
healthful living. There are
so many seriously tasty
foods that are healthy and I
for one long to be learning/
exchanging those recipes!
I long for encouragement
in healthy living from my
church community.
The health message is
not an arbitrary test of
obedience; it’s not about
how your “parents were
too strict”. Get out of that
past-focused mindset!
The health message is a
way to get the best out of
life with sharp and capable
minds and bodies—and to
encourage others to enjoy
the same.
Let’s repent for resenting
God’s gifts and choose to
accept His gifts with gratitude.
Jackie Dennis, NSW

Note: Views in “Have your
say” do not necessarily represent those of the editors or
the denomination. Comments
should be less than 250 words,
and writers must include their
name, address and phone
number. All comments are edited to meet space and literary
requirements, but the author’s
original meaning will not be
changed. Not all comments
received are published.

february 17, 2018 | Adventist record

19

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noticeboard
Weddings
BASTOS-GOODWRIGHT. Sandro

Bastos, son of Carlos and Manuela
Bastos (Sydney, NSW), and
Mary Goodwright, daughter of
Roger and Elyshea Goodwright
(Hamilton, NZ), were married on
11.12.17 at Wallalong House,
NSW. Sandro and Mary met at
Fox Valley church and have now
moved into the neighbourhood
where they will serve the
community through nursing and
teaching ministries.
Mark Baines

DE RossiKURTOVIC. Phillip

John De Rossi,
son of Glenn and
Adele De Rossi (Raymond
Terrace, NSW), and Kristina
Kurtovic, daughter of Vic and
Magda Kurtovic (Woodrising),
were married on 21.1.18 in the
Hunter Region Botanic Gardens,
Heatherbrae. Family and friends
gathered in a beautiful garden
setting to celebrate Phil and
Kristina’s wedding. The couple
will continue this year to complete
their chosen courses of study in
the Central Coast area.
Kevin Amos, Michael Lilakakis

Dzumbira-Elliott. Amos
Dzumbira, son of Sheila
(deceased) and Godfrey Dzumbira
(Harare, Zimbabwe), and Sarah
Ann Elliott, daughter of Irma and
Vincent Elliott (Bateau Bay, NSW),
were married on 31.8.17 at Norah
Head Lighthouse, followed by a
reception at Soldiers Beach Event
Centre
Nick Kross
EDGE-SABA.
Michael Edge, son
of Pauline and
Mark (deceased)
Edge (Brisbane, Qld), and Mimi
Saba, daughter of Marion Hastie
and Daas Saba (deceased)
(Brisbane), were married on
21.1.18 at Goomoolahra Falls in
Springbrook National Park. They
are currently living in Brisbane.
David Garrard

FUA-FISCHER.

Hala Fua, son of
Olivia Hala and
the late Samuela
Fua (Sydney, NSW), and Alisi
Fischer, daughter of Everard and
Atfoa Gibson (Sydney), were
married on 11.1.18 at Parramatta
church, followed by a reception
with family and friends, some of
whom had travelled from as far
away as New Zealand.
Adrian Raethel

HOPE-LAPUZ.

James Hope, son
of Alan Hope
(WA) and
Rosemary Malkiewycz (Morisset,
NSW), and Diane Lapuz, daughter
of Napoleon and Eulogia Lapuz
(Philippines), were married on
2.4.17 at Waitara church, where
they had met three years earlier.
It was a beautiful wedding that
featured special musical items
from the bride and groom.
Relatives from WA and the
Philippines were in attendance,
with church family, friends and
co-workers of the happy couple.
Roger Govender

MCMAHON-MAJOR.

John Henry
Addison
McMahon, son of
Henry Joseph Addison (deceased)
and Mary Phyllis Brookes Bullas
(deceased) (Melbourne Vic), and
Karleen Deborah Major, daughter
of Trevor and Deborah Major
(Meriden, WA), were married on
10.12.17 in Carmel College church
in Perth. John is currently
practising neurosurgery in
Melbourne. Karleen was teaching
in Perth before moving to
Melbourne. Family and friends
enjoyed the ceremony and
reception.
Douw Venter

MukumbaThomas. Onesimo

Mukumba, son
of Jakubosi
Mukumba and Evelyn Mudzvova,
(Zimbabwe), and Michelle
Christine Thomas, daughter
of Thomas Thomas and Judith
Gombarume (Zimbabwe), were
married on 29.10.17 in Mandurah
church, WA. They celebrated
their wedding a few weeks later
with many friends and family
in Zimbabwe. Onesimo is a
support worker and Michelle is an
assistant accountant in Perth.
Douw Venter

Obituaries
BANKS, Frances Mary (nee

Martin), born 21.12.1913 in
Cheddleton, UK; died 3.1.18 in
Rossmoyne, WA. On 18.12.1933
she married Harry Banks, who
predeceased her in 1979. Mary
is survived by her nephews
and nieces: John Vaughan
(Cooranbong, NSW), Peter
Vaughan (Dora Creek), Barbara
Reynolds (Capel, WA), Ross
Vaughan (Perth) and Margaret
Harders (Perth). Mary migrated
with her family to WA when

she was 13. Throughout her life
she supported her sister, nieces
and nephews and their families,
and others in need. Mary had
a keen and creative mind. In
her 70s she learned German,
attended university full-time
and graduated with a degree in
fine arts. Wherever she lived,
Mary was actively involved in the
community in caring for others,
serving with St John Ambulance
and as a member of the Busselton
Art Society. Her long and
productive life has touched many.
Roger Millist

FREEMAN, Joy Pamela,

born 5.4.1961 in
Goodna, Qld; died
6.1.18 in Chermside.
Pamela is survived by her
husband David; and her two
children Albert and Nathaniel (all
of Brisbane). Pamela was a lovely,
caring and thoughtful lady, a hard
worker and compassionate. She
worked hard to raise her children
and was very keen to memorise
Bible verses. She always said that
forgiveness was something that
we all needed to do seventytimes-seven. She was a
much-loved member of Sandgate
church and volunteered at the
ADRA op shop. Family and friends
gathered at the Pinnaroo
Cemetery to pay their final
respects. Her hope in Jesus was
strong.
Humberto Rivera Moya

Givney, Shirley May (nee Baker),
born 17.9.1934 in Gloucester,
England; died 20.9.17 in
Townsville, Qld. Shirley and her
family moved to Australia in
1949. On 26.5.1956 she married
Raymond Givney. She is survived
by her husband (Townsville);
children Paul and wife Jenny
(Ingham, Qld) and Shirray
Knight (Uganda); grandchildren
Joshua and Sarah; and two
great-grandchildren Callum and
Jeremiah. Shirley loved her Lord
dearly and faithfully served her
church in a number of positions
over the years. During a long
illness Shirley was an inspiration
to her family and others.
Bob Borresen
GOSLING, Joycelyn
Betty (nee Adderton),
born 19.3.1935 in
Sydney, NSW; died
30.8.17 in Sydney. On 1.12.1958
she married Doug. Joycelyn is
survived by her husband; her
children David Gosling, Julie
Marsden and Jenny Wright (all of
NSW); seven grandchildren; and
four great-grandchildren.
Martin Vukmanic

HEISE, Noarelle Avrille (nee
Fatnowna), born 13.10.1966
in Mackay, Qld; died 7.1.18 in
Newcastle, NSW, after a long
battle with cancer. Noarelle is
survived by her husband Mark;
and her two daughters Candice
(Sydney) and Renee (Rathmines).
Noarelle’s spirit of thriving
propelled her to live and love with
her life’s greatest joy: family and
friends. One might even say she
lived with cancer, rather than died
from it.
Leighton Heise
NEIRINCKX, Bernardine Frederiek
(Benny), born 16.6.1925; died
17.1.18 on the Sunshine Coast,
Qld. She was married to Eduard
Willem Carl Randolph Neirinckx,
who predeceased her. She was
also predeceased by her son Edu.
She is survived by her sons Arne
and Geuko. A memorial service,
attended by family and friends,
was held at Maroochydore
church to commemorate the
life of Benny. She had a great
involvement in her community
as well as more than 50 years of
service to Pathfinders. Benny’s
inspiration and love for others
will be remembered by all who
knew her.
Steve Ward, John Rabbas
REID, Monica Nell (nee
Cameron), born
14.12.1925 in
Launceston, Tas; died
23.11.17 in Launceston. On
30.8.1950 she married George
Reid, who predeceased her in
2000. Mon is survived by her
children: Malcolm Reid
(Launceston), Laurelle and Stan
Wallis (Melbourne, Vic), Lynette
Macqueen (Melbourne), Richard
and Jayne Reid (Sydney, NSW),
and Lawson and Llevella Reid
(Launceston, Tas); 10
grandchildren; and eight
great-grandchildren. Mon was
one of the most well-known and
best-loved members of
Launceston church. She loved
teaching, mentoring and sharing
in the church and the community,
and her love of history, poetry
and learning was nurtured
through her family. She provided
wise counsel when serving on
conference, union and Division
committees. Mon was a gracious
lady who embraced friends and
inspired her community.
Harley Stanton, Richard Reid
RIECK, Meira Eloise, born 22.10.17

in Brisbane, Qld; died 27.11.17
in Royal Brisbane Women’s
Hospital. She was predeceased by
her uncle Michael Karmaniolos.
She is survived by her parents

FEBRUARY 17, 2018 | Adventist record

21

Jared and Elise (Mooloolah
Valley); grandparents; greatgrandparents; aunts; uncles and
cousins. Despite this sadness,
the family look with hope to that
great resurrection morning when
Meira will be restored to her
parents’ loving arms.
Mark Pearce

SMITH, Pastor Maxwell

Paul, born 2.6.1949 in
Cessnock, NSW; died
19.11.17 in Kalamunda,
WA. Max is survived by his wife
Heather; and sons David and
Peter (all of Perth). Max qualified
as an electrician in 1963, then
studied at Avondale, graduating in
1967. Max and Heather worked in
ministry at Lismore, Gunnedah,
Gosford, Murwillumbah and
Lightning Ridge, where Max used
his recently acquired pilot’s
licence to visit members in
remote areas. They also served in
Lithgow, then Port Headland,
where Max flew the conference
plane to visit church members. On
moving to Perth, Max served as
minister in Gosnells, Armadale,
Midland, Maida Vale, Bickley and
Carmel churches before teaching
at Carmel College. He then served
at the conference office until his
retirement.
Gordon Stafford, Darren Peakall

Wigglesworth, Myrtle Ida, (nee

Sutherland), born 19.4.1928 in
Sydney, NSW; died 6.4.17 in
Boonah, Qld. On 11.2.1952 she
married Cliff Wigglesworth,
who predeceased her in 2013.
Myrtle is survived by her children:
Merilyn and Vic (Qld), Michael
and Christine (Qld), Jan and Kevin
(NSW), Andrew and Jenny (Romania), and John and Charmaine
(Qld); 15 grandchildren; and

two great-grandchildren. Myrtle
attended Avondale College and
sang in the Symphonic Choir. After her marriage to Cliff, their mutual love of good music meant it
was part of their family life for 60
years. Myrtle was gifted in many
areas but was a humble person
who loved to bless others with
her talents. Her family, making
beautiful meals, playing the piano,
studying God’s Word and teaching the lesson were the focus and
joy of her life. The one word that
captures the spirit of her life of
service is faithfulness.
Neil Marks

WARFIELD, Sandra, born

28.12.1963; died 1.12.17. While
still young, a severe accidental
injury limited her abilities. But,
rather than allowing herself
to become embittered by her
misfortunes, she concentrated
on doing deeds of kindness, even
naming her journal Nothing but
Kindness Matters. On 18.12.17
several hundred people gathered
at Pokolbin, NSW, to honour
Sandra’s memory.

ADVERTISING
ADVENTIST TRAVEL GROUP
Join an Adventist-focused
travel group to North America
in August/September 2018,
including a West Canada Rocky
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welcomed; no single supplement
if you are willing to share. For
more information visit <www.
lawsondiscovery.com>, email
<tours@lawsondiscovery.com>
or phone (07) 3272 2167.

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and, of course, God. Specialising
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Please call Celia 0408093878.

Finally . . .

ALLROUND TRAVEL CENTRE.
Specialists in group and individual
travel to all parts of the world.
Tours in 2018: Ireland and London with optional seven-night
Norwegian Fjord cruise—May.
Bible lands: Jordan and Israel­
October. Mini Reformation tour
of Italy, Waldensian, Switzerland
and Germany­—July. New Zealand:
five-night tour combines with
eight-night NZ cruise back to
Sydney—October. We welcome
your enquiry, email: <alltrav@
bigpond.net.au> or phone: (07)
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BUSINESS FOR SALE
Tastebuds on Dalgarno is a
vegetarian health food shop and
cafe located in Coonabarabran,
NSW. We are wanting to sell to a
beautiful Adventist person/family

“But they that wait
upon the Lord will
renew their strength.
They shall mount up
with eagles’ wings”
(Isaiah 40:31).
NEXT ISSUE: ADVENTIST
RECORD, MARCH 3

Note: Neither the editor, Adventist Media, nor the Seventh-day Adventist
Church is responsible for the quality of goods or services advertised. Publication does not indicate endorsement of a product or service. Classified
advertisements in Adventist Record are available to Seventh-day Adventist
members, churches and institutions only. All advertisements, appreciation,
anniversary, wedding and obituary notices may be submitted via <ads@
record.net.au> or online at <record.adventistchurch.com>. Notices will not
be reprinted unless there is an error of fact caused by Record staff.

The Australian Union Conference is seeking to fill the role of
receptionist, social media coordinator and personal assistant. The
position is a full-time role, commencing March 2018. Enquiries,
position description and applications, together with CVs, resumes and
references, may be submitted by email to HR coordinator Lorraine
Atchia <lorraineatchia@adventist.org.au> or by post: PO Box 4368
Ringwood Vic, 3134. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in
Australia. The Australian Union Conference reserves the right to fill
the role prior to the close of applications date.
Applications close March 6, 2018.

FOR MORE AVAILABLE POSITIONS VISIT:

ADVENTISTEMPLOYMENT.ORG.AU

/SDAJOBS

IT SERVICE DELIVERY SPECIALIST
Wahroonga, NSW

The Adventist Church Technology Service is seeking a highly skilled
and experienced service delivery specialist to join its team. This
12-month fixed term full-time role will be responsible for overseeing
the consistent and high-quality delivery of services to our customers
by establishing policies and procedures to drive a culture designed
to ensure consistent high service delivery. For more information visit
<www.adventistemployment.org.au>. To apply, please send a cover
letter, your CV, three work-related referees and the contact details
of your Adventist church pastor, to: Human Resources, Seventh-day
Adventist Church (SPD) Limited, Locked Bag 2014, Wahroonga NSW
2076 Australia; email <hr@adventist.org.au>.
Applications close February 18, 2018.

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